Connecting collaboration nodes

ABSTRACT

A system including a first node configured to receive first data in a first format that specifies a network destination for the first data and convert the first data to second data in a second format that does not specify a network destination for the second data and a second node configured to receive the second data from the first node over a first connection and convert the second data to third data in a third format that specifies a network destination for the third data is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit of co-pending HPDocket No. 200701255-1, U.S. patent Ser. No. ______, entitled “SyntheticBridging”, filed concurrently on Jul. 31, 2007 and is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. This application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/894,802, filed Mar. 14,2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Video teleconferencing systems allow for collaboration between people indifferent locations. These systems allow participants to interact withone another through the use of audio and video equipment that providesreal time audio and video communications. Given the complexity ofconnecting people across various locations and adherence to variousteleconferencing standards, these systems may provide limitations on theways participants can exchange information. In addition, these systemsmay connect to a publicly available network, such as the Internet, whichmay subject them to security risks from hackers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B are block diagrams illustrating embodiments of a mediacollaboration system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of selectedportions of a collaboration node.

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams illustrating embodiments of A/V gear in acontent node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural orlogical changes may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is notto be taken in a limiting sense.

As described herein, a media collaboration system transports audio/video(A/V) data into and out of a collaborative session, such as avideoconference, while protecting and insulating the networkinfrastructures and associated media resources of session attendees. Thecollaborative session may take place in two or more locations (e.g.,different cities) to connect one or more users or media resources ineach of the locations. Cameras and microphones, for example, may capturevideo and audio from one or more of the locations and the video andaudio may be output using one or more display devices and speakers, forexample, at one or more other locations. In addition, various types ofpre-recorded A/V data, such as a DVD, may be transported to one or moreof the locations where it may be output using a display device orspeakers, for example. One or more locations of the videoconference mayinclude arrangements of office furniture (e.g., office chairs and aconference table) and A/V gear to provide users with gaze awareness anda full immersion feeling.

The media collaboration system transports at least a portion of the A/Vdata into and out of a collaborative session across at least twounrelated networks where at least one of the networks is a trustednetwork. The media collaboration system prevents network informationfrom being exchanged between the unrelated networks. When a node in thesystem receives A/V data from a network, the node converts the A/V datafrom a network format that specifies a network destination for the A/Vdata to a non-network A/V format that does not specify a networkdestination for the A/V data. The node then provides the converted A/Vdata to another node across a non-network A/V connection. The node thatreceives the non-network A/V data converts the A/V data from thenon-network A/V format to a network format that specifies a networkdestination for the A/V data and provides the network A/V data onanother network that is connected to the network destination for the A/Vdata.

Although the media collaboration system will be described herein astransporting A/V data into and out of a collaborative session, thesystem may also be used to exchange any other types of data or controlcontent, such as control signals used to drive a computer applicationremotely, in other embodiments.

FIGS. 1A-1B are block diagrams illustrating respective embodiments 100Aand 100B of a media collaboration system 100. Media collaboration system100 forms a telepresence videoconferencing system where various A/Vmedia streams from different sources are combined into a collaborativesession in one embodiment. The media streams may be any combination oflive or pre-recorded audio and/or video data that may be combined in anysuitable way and output to any number of users in any number oflocations by media collaboration system 100.

Referring to FIG. 1A, media collaboration system 100A includescollaboration nodes 110(1)-110(M), where M is greater than or equal totwo, connected to a trusted network 120. Collaboration nodes110(1)-110(M) connect to content nodes 130(1)-130(M), respectively, andcontent nodes 130(1)-130(M) connect to untrusted networks 140(1)-140(M),respectively. System 100A may also include any number of additionalcollaboration nodes 110 (not shown) that connect to trusted network 120but do not connect to a content node 130. System 100A may furtherinclude any number of additional content nodes 130 connected to eachuntrusted network 140. In addition, one or more of untrusted networks140(1)-140(M) may be interconnected or omitted in some embodiments.

Each collaboration node 110 includes a set of A/V connectors 111 thatconnects to content node 130 across A/V connections 112. A/V connectors111 may be any suitable type and combination of conventional standarddigital and analog A/V interfaces such as composite video, componentvideo, S-Video, analog HD, balanced stereo audio, SDI, HD-SDI, DVI,DVI-D, HDMI, VGA, or other suitable A/V interfaces without networkfeatures that might compromise security. A/V connectors 111 allownon-network A/V data to be input to and output from collaboration node110 where the A/V data does not specify a network destination. The A/Vdata is usable by any A/V device that is configured to operate with theA/V interfaces of A/V connectors 111.

A/V connectors 111 connect to A/V connections 112. A/V connections 112may be any suitable type and combination of conventional standarddigital and analog A/V connections configured to operate with any of theexample interfaces listed above or other suitable A/V interfaces. A/Vconnections 112 are configured to inherently prevent any useful networkprotocol information from being transmitted in either direction betweencontent node 130 and collaboration node 110.

Each collaboration node 110 also includes a set of coding and decodingmechanisms (codecs) 118 that connect to at least the set of A/Vconnectors 111 and trusted network 120 across a network connection 119.For A/V data received across A/V connections 112, codecs 118 convert theA/V data from a non-network A/V format that does not specify a networkdestination to a network format that does specify a network destinationand provides the A/V data in the network format to network 120 usingnetwork connection 119. Codecs 118 generate any suitable information forthe network format to specify the network destination and include theinformation with the A/V data as specified by the network format. Theinformation may include MAC addresses, IP addresses, ports, and/orrouting information, for example.

For A/V data received across network 120 using network connection 119,codecs 118 convert the A/V data from a network format that specifies anetwork destination to a non-network A/V format that does not specify anetwork destination and provides the A/V data in the non-network A/Vformat to content node 130 using A/V connections 112. Codecs 118 removeall information from the network format that specifies a networkdestination. The removed information may include MAC addresses, IPaddresses, ports, and/or routing information, for example.

In one embodiment, codecs 118 convert the A/V data received across A/Vconnections 112 in a non-network A/V format to an Internet Protocol (IP)format. In this embodiment, codecs 118 generate IP packets to includethe A/V data and also include information in each packet that specifiesa destination of the packet across network 120. By doing so, codecs 118convert the A/V data from a non-network A/V format to an IP format.Codecs 118 provide the A/V data in the IP format to network 120 usingnetwork connection 119.

Codecs 118 also convert the A/V data received across network connection119 in an IP format to a non-network A/V format in this embodiment.Codecs 118 extract A/V data from each IP packet received from network120 and discard the network destination information. Codecs 118 combinethe extracted A/V data into a non-network A/V format to convert the A/Vdata from an IP format to a non-network A/V format. Codecs 118 providethe A/V data in the non-network A/V format to content node 130 using A/Vconnections 112.

In other embodiments, codecs 118 convert A/V data to and from othernetwork formats.

Network connection 119 may be any suitable network connection betweencollaboration node 110 and trusted network 120. For example, networkconnection 119 may be a leased line (i.e., a T3, optical, cable, orwireless high speed link) which provides a large data pipe to and fromcollaboration node 110.

Trusted network 120 may be any suitable, secure application network suchas a collaborative transport network. Trusted network 120 may be alocal, regional, or global network that includes any suitable networkconfiguration that ranges from a local point-to-point connection betweentwo collaboration nodes 110 to a global array of connections thatconnect many collaboration nodes 110. Accordingly, trusted network 120may not include and may not provide network connections to a publiclyavailable network such as the Internet in some embodiments. Network 120may be designed specifically to optimize high bandwidth with low latencyto be able to transport live, interactive, audio, video, and other datarich media streams. Trusted network 120 may have a smallest link of 45Mbps to avoid any significant serialization delay. Trusted network 120may also use a flat network topology to minimize latency. In order tokeep a high quality end-user experience, trusted network 120 may keepthe total one-way latency between two collaboration nodes 110 to lessthan one-quarter of a second. This total latency may encompass allaspects of encoding/decoding, encapsulation/de-encapsulation, captureand presentation, filtering, processing, compression and decompressionand transport latencies across the transmission path. As thecontribution of each component of network 120 to overall latencydecreases (as technology improves), the length of the “reach” of wheredifferent sites can be physically located may be increased.

To better preserve the shortest paths capable of reliable delivery withlittle packet loss, bandwidth and network resource mechanisms (notshown) may be used to insure high-quality sessions for the duration ofthe collaboration session. As most traffic streams are presumed to takeplace linking a pair or small number of end sites together for any givensession, network 120 may have little presumption of session pre-emptiononce authorized sessions commence.

In some embodiments, longer latency and/or loss tolerant sessions may beprovided over network 120. Such services may include directory,presence, messaging, credential verification, and time/name services forexamples.

The interior of network 120 may concentrate on speedy delivery oftraffic flows. Any access control, encryption/decryption and other proxyservices, if needed may occur at the edge of the network such as incollaboration node 110 or content node 130 and not the interior ofnetwork 120. This design may make the core of the backbone of network120 simpler to grow, maintain, stable, and very fast.

Each content node 130 connects to a collaboration node 110 using A/Vconnections 112 and to an untrusted network 140 using a networkconnection 132. Each content node 130 is configured to convert the A/Vdata between one or more A/V formats and one or more network format. ForA/V data received across A/V connections 112, content node 130 convertsthe A/V data from a non-network A/V format that does not specify anetwork destination to a network format that does specify a networkdestination and provides the A/V data in the network format to network140 using network connection 132. Content node 130 generates anysuitable information for the network format to specify the networkdestination and includes the information with the A/V data as specifiedby the network format. The information may include MAC addresses, IPaddresses, ports, and/or routing information, for example.

For A/V data received across network 140 using network connection 132,content node 130 converts the A/V data from a network format thatspecifies a network destination to a non-network A/V format that doesnot specify a network destination and provides the A/V data in thenon-network A/V format to collaboration node 110 using A/V connections112. Content node 130 removes all information from the network formatthat specifies a network destination. The removed information mayinclude MAC addresses, IP addresses, ports, and/or routing information,for example.

In one embodiment, content node 130 converts the A/V data receivedacross A/V connections 112 in a non-network A/V format to an InternetProtocol (IP) format. In this embodiment, content node 130 generates IPpackets to include the A/V data and also include information in eachpacket that specifies a destination of the packet across network 120. Bydoing so, content node 130 converts the A/V data from a non-network A/Vformat to an IP format. Content node 130 provides the A/V data in the IPformat to network 140 using network connection 132.

Content node 130 also converts the A/V data received across networkconnection 132 in an IP format to a non-network A/V format in thisembodiment. Content node 130 extracts A/V data from each IP packetreceived from network 140 and discards the network destinationinformation. Content node 130 combines the extracted A/V data into anon-network A/V format to convert the A/V data from an IP format to anon-network A/V format. Content node 130 provides the A/V data in thenon-network A/V format to collaboration node 110 using A/V connections112.

In other embodiments, content node 130 converts A/V data to and fromother network formats.

Network connection 132 may be any suitable network connection betweencontent node 130 and untrusted network 140. For example, networkconnection 132 may be a leased line (i.e., a T3, optical, cable, orwireless high speed link) which provides a large data pipe to and fromcontent node 130.

Each untrusted network 140 may be any type of network formed from anynumber of network devices that operate using any suitable networkprotocol or protocols and are connect to any number of content nodes 130or other computer or storage systems. Each network 140 may be a securenetwork, such as an enterprise network or corporate intranet, withlimited and secure connections to other systems or an unsecure networkwith any combination of secure and unsecure connections to othersystems. Each network 140 may be private or publicly available andinclude one or more connections to the Internet.

Each untrusted network 140 is considered “untrusted” by collaborationnode 110 and/or trusted network 120 because collaboration node 110and/or trusted network 120 may have no information regarding the levelof security of an untrusted network 140. None of the untrusted networks140, however, affects the security level of collaboration node 110and/or trusted network 120 because any data that is transmitted betweennetwork 120 and any of networks 140 is transmitted in a non-networkformat across connections 112. Connections 112, in conjunction withcollaboration nodes 110 and content nodes 130, provide a secure,reliable transport mechanism between network 120 and a network 140without a network path (e.g., an IP path) between the two networks.Accordingly, collaboration media may be transported between any twountrusted networks 140 across trusted network 120 using the respectivesets of A/V connections 112 as described above.

FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment 100B of media collaboration system100. Media collaboration system 100B operates like media collaborationsystem 100A as described above but with additional features that willnow be described.

System 100B includes any number of additional content nodes 130connected to each untrusted network 140. As with system 100A, one ormore of untrusted networks 140(1)-140(M) may be interconnected oromitted in some embodiments.

Each collaboration node 110 in system 100B includes a set of one or morecontrol connectors 113 that connect to a set of one or more controlconnections 114, an A/V switch 115, A/V gear, and a node management unit117 in addition to the set of A/V connectors 111 and codecs 118.

A/V connectors 111 include at least one auxiliary A/V interface, atleast one local A/V interface, at least one meeting A/V interface, andat least one collaboration A/V interface. A/V connections 112 include atleast one auxiliary A/V connection (AUX. A/V), at least one local A/Vconnection (LOC. A/V), at least one meeting A/V connection (MTG. A/V),and at least one collaboration A/V connection (COL. A/V).

Each auxiliary A/V connection provides non-network A/V data in anon-network A/V format from content node 130 to collaboration node 110.As will be described in additional detail below, the A/V data fromcontent node 130 may be generated in content node 130 or generated byanother content node 130 that provides the A/V data over network 140 tothe content node 130 that connects to the auxiliary A/V connection.

Each local A/V connection provides non-network A/V data in a non-networkA/V format that is generated in collaboration node 110 fromcollaboration node 110 to content node 130. In one embodiment, the localA/V connections include three video connections from three video sourcesin collaboration node 110 and one audio connection from an audio sourcein collaboration node 110 that combines the audio from the three videosources.

Each meeting A/V connection provides non-network A/V data in anon-network A/V format that is generated in a remote collaboration node110 or content node 130 and transmitted across network 120 fromcollaboration node 110 to content node 130. In one embodiment, themeeting A/V connections include three video connections from three videosources a remote collaboration node 110 or content node 130 and oneaudio connection from an audio source the remote collaboration node 110or content node 130 that combines the audio from the three videosources. The video and audio sources are provided to the collaborationnode 110 that connects to the meeting A/V connections across network120.

Each collaboration A/V connection provides non-network A/V data in anon-network A/V format from collaboration node 110 to content node 130.Each collaboration A/V may output a corresponding input from anauxiliary A/V connection with or without additional processing bycollaboration node 110.

In other embodiments, A/V connections 112 may include other numbers,types, and/or combinations of A/V connections.

Each collaboration node 110 also includes a set of control connectors113 that connects to content node 130 across control connections 114.Control connectors 113 may be any suitable type and combination ofdigital and analog non-network control interfaces that allow non-networkcontrol signals to be input to and output from collaboration node 110where the control signals do not specify a network destination. Thecontrol signals are usable by any controllable device that is configuredto operate with the control interfaces of control connectors 113.

Control connectors 113 connect to control connections 114. Controlconnections 114 may be any suitable type and combination of digital andanalog control connections that are configured to inherently prevent anyuseful network protocol information from being transmitted in eitherdirection between content node 130 and collaboration node 110.

Each collaboration node 110 further includes an A/V switch 115. A/Vswitch 115 connects to A/V connectors 111, control connectors 113, A/Vgear 116, node management unit 117, and codecs 118. A/V switch 115routes A/V data in response to control signals from node management unit117 and/or control signals received across control connectors 113. Inparticular, A/V switch 115 routes A/V data between A/V connectors 111and codecs 118 in both directions, between codecs 118 and A/V gear 116in both directions, and between A/V connectors 111 and A/V gear 116 inboth directions.

A/V gear 116 includes any type, number, and combination of audio andvideo input and output devices. Examples of input devices includemicrophones, still and video cameras, media players, and computer andstorage systems. The input devices may provide live or pre-recordedmedia. Examples of output devices include speakers, headphones,headsets, media recorders, and display devices such as projectors,computer monitors, and televisions. In one embodiment, A/V gear 116includes integrated A/V gear that forms a collaboration studio such as a“Halo studio” offered by Hewlett-Packard Co.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of A/V gear 116connected to A/V switch 115 in collaboration node 110. In the example ofFIG. 2, video processors 202 provide video data from A/V switch 115 todisplay devices 204(1)-204(3), and display devices 204(1)-204(3) displaythe video data. Cameras 206(1)-206(3) capture video data and provide thevideo data to A/V switch 115. An echo cancellation and mixing unit 208mixes and processes audio data from A/V switch 115 and provides theprocessed audio data to amplifiers 210. Amplifiers 210 amplify the audiodata and provide the audio data to speakers 212(1)-212(3) and sub-woofer214. Speakers 212(1)-212(3) output the higher frequencies of the audiodata, and sub-woofer 214 outputs the lower, bass frequencies of theaudio data. Microphones 216(1)-216(3) capture audio data and provide theaudio data to A/V switch 115.

Display devices 204(1)-204(3) may be arranged in such a manner around aconference table and chairs to allow for gaze awareness and a fullimmersion feeling in one embodiment.

Referring back to FIG. 1B, each content node 130 includes A/V gear 134and gear control 136. A/V gear 134 includes any type, number, andcombination of audio and video input and output devices such as theexample input devices and output devices listed above. Gear control 136includes any suitable control unit configured to provide wired orwireless control signals to A/V gear 134 and A/V switch 115 such as acontroller from AMX Corporation. Gear control 136 may provide network ornon-network control signals to A/V gear 134, but only providesnon-network control signals to A/V switch 115.

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams illustrating embodiments 132A, 132B, and132C of A/V gear 132 in content node 130.

In FIG. 3A, A/V gear 132A includes a videoconference system 302 with anysuitable type, number, and combination of input A/V devices 304 andoutput A/V devices 306, such as the example input devices and outputdevices listed above, and a control unit 132. Control unit 308 connectsto network connection 132 and A/V connections 112 to provide A/V datafrom network 140 to collaboration node 110 and output A/V devices 306and from collaboration node 110 to network 140 and output A/V devices306. Control unit 308 also provides A/V data from input A/V devices 304to collaboration node 110 and network 140. Control unit 308 may operatein response to control signals from gear control 136 (shown in FIG. 1B).

In FIG. 3B, A/V gear 132B includes a media player and/or recorder 312that connects to A/V connections 112. Media player/recorder 312 mayoperate in response to control signals from gear control 136 (shown inFIG. 1B).

Media player/recorder 312 provides A/V data from a media 314 tocollaboration node 110 across connections 112. Media 314 may be anysuitable media that stores pre-recorded A/V data such as a DVD, HD-DVD™,Blu-ray™, or other optical or non-optical media.

In addition to or in place of providing A/V data to collaboration node110, media player/recorder 312 stores A/V data from collaboration node110 across connections 112 to media 314. Media 314 may be any suitablemedia that stores A/V data from collaboration node 110 such as a DVD-R.In this mode of operation, media player/recorder 312 may perform meetingarchival functions to record all or selected portions of a collaborativesession.

In FIG. 3C, A/V gear 132C includes videoconference system 302, mediaplayer/recorder 312 with media 314, an A/V switch 320, and a compositor322. A/V switch 320 provides A/V data between connectors 112 andvideoconference system 302, media player/recorder 312, and compositor322 in response to control signals from gear control 136. Compositor 322is a video mixing system configured to receive multiple video inputs andscale, position, and/or blend the video inputs into single video imageoutput. Any of videoconference system 302, media player/recorder 312,and compositor 322 may also operate in response to control signals fromgear control 136 (shown in FIG. 1B).

Referring back to FIG. 1B, media collaboration system 100B may alsoinclude any suitable collaboration environment to control the operationof the components of system 100B. The collaboration environment mayallow users to optimize the experience provided by A/V gear 116. Mediacollaboration system 100B may further include any suitable userinterface control the configuration of the media resource routingsbetween connections 112, A/V gear 116, and codecs 118.

With the above embodiments, media collaboration system 100B may be usedto cross connect collaboration sessions on different networks (e.g., acollaboration session on network 120 and a collaboration session onnetwork 140). The sessions may be connected in a demonstrably securefashion to provide secure, reliable transport among two or more sites.These embodiments eliminate the need for a traditional private oruntrusted Internet path between the site's networks. Media collaborationsystem 100B may also be used to provide experience control using gearcontrol 136 in one or more content nodes 130. In addition, mediacollaboration system 100B may be used to provide collaborationexperience replacement. With collaboration experience replacement,different sets of A/V gear may be used for different types ofcollaborative sessions. For example, A/V gear 116 may be used for onetype of collaborative session and A/V gear 134 may be used in place ofA/V gear 116 in another type of collaborative session using any suitablecontrol and A/V switching arrangement.

Although the above embodiments have been described above with referenceto media data that includes audio and/or video, other embodiments maytransport other types of data such as control data configured to operatea remote computer system.

The embodiments described above may demonstrably and understandablysecure transfer of collaboration media between networks without an IPconnection between the networks. The embodiments may also provide acollaboration environment customization mechanism for use by, e.g. A/Vintegrators, for more efficient flexible customization of a desiredcollaboration environment without the need for IT support on acontinuing use basis. The embodiments may further provide for transportof pre-mixed mixed audio and video streams, such as “session audio”stream, that are useful for applications such as session archival. Inaddition, the embodiments may allow collaboration between collaborativesessions that are incompatible in the session management standards ormedia stream formats.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described hereinfor purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety ofalternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for thespecific embodiments shown and described without departing from thescope of the present invention. Those with skill in the optical,mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical, and computer arts willreadily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in avery wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to coverany adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussedherein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention belimited by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A system comprising: a first node configured to receive first data ina first format that specifies a network destination for the first dataand convert the first data to second data in a second format that doesnot specify a network destination for the second data; and a second nodeconfigured to receive the second data from the first node over a firstconnection and convert the second data to third data in a third formatthat specifies a network destination for the third data.
 2. The systemof claim 1 wherein the first and the third formats each include anInternet Protocol (IP) format, and wherein the second format includes anaudio/video (A/V) format.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the firstconnection is one of a composite video connection, a component videoconnection, an S-Video connection, an analog HD connection, a balancedstereo audio connection, a SDI connection, a HD-SDI connection, a DVIconnection, a DVI-D connection, an HDMI connection, and a VGAconnection.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first node is a firstcontent node that is configured to receive the first data from a secondcontent node over a first network, wherein the second node is acollaboration node that includes audio/video (A/V) gear configured togenerate fourth data, and wherein the collaboration node is configuredto provide the third data and the fourth data to a second network. 5.The system of claim 4 wherein the content node includes at least one ofa video conference system, a media player, and an audio/video (A/V)switch.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first node is acollaboration node that is configured to receive the first data from afirst network, wherein the collaboration node includes first audio/video(A/V) gear configured to output the second data, and wherein the secondnode is a first content node that is configured to provide the thirddata to a second content node on a second network.
 7. The system ofclaim 6 wherein the first and the second content nodes include secondand third audio/video (A/V) gear, respectively, and wherein the secondand the third audio/video (A/V) gear are configured to output the thirddata.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first node is configured toprovide control signals to the second node over a second connection in acontrol format that does not specify a network destination for thecontrol signals.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the second node isconfigured to provide the third data to a network that is connected tothe network destination that is specified for the third data.
 10. Amethod comprising: providing a first node that is configured to receivefirst data from a first network in a first format that specifies anetwork destination for the first data and convert the first data tosecond data in a second format that does not specify a networkdestination for the second data; and connecting the first node to asecond node that is configured to receive the second data from the firstnode over a first connection and convert the second data to third datain a third format that specifies a network destination for the thirddata on a second network.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the firstand the third formats each include an Internet Protocol (IP) format, andwherein the second format includes an audio/video (A/V) format.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 further comprising: providing gear control configuredto provide control signals over a second connection between the firstnode and the second node.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the secondnode is configured to receive fourth data from the second network in afourth format that specifies a network destination for the fourth dataand convert the fourth data to fifth data in a fifth format that doesnot specify a network destination for the fifth data, wherein the firstnode is configured to receive the fifth data from the second node over asecond connection and convert the fifth data to sixth data in a sixthformat that specifies a network destination for the sixth data on thefirst network.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the first node is afirst content node that is configured to receive the first data from asecond content node over the first network, wherein the second node is acollaboration node that includes audio/video (A/V) gear configured togenerate fourth data, and wherein the collaboration node is configuredto provide the third data and the fourth data to the second network. 15.The method of claim 10 wherein the first node is a collaboration nodethat is configured to receive the first data from the first network,wherein the collaboration node includes first audio/video (A/V) gearconfigured to output the second data, and wherein the second node is afirst content node that is configured to provide the third data to asecond content node on the second network.
 16. A system comprising:means for receiving first audio/video (A/V) data from a first network ina first format that specifies a network destination for the first A/Vdata; means for converting the first A/V data to second A/V data in asecond format that does not specify a network destination for the secondA/V data; means for providing the second A/V data over a first A/Vconnection; means for converting the second A/V data from the first A/Vconnection to third A/V data in a third format that specifies a networkdestination for the third A/V data; and means for providing the thirdA/V data to the network destination specified by the third A/V data overa second network.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and thethird formats each include an Internet Protocol (IP) format, and whereinthe second format includes an audio/video (A/V) format.
 18. The systemof claim 16 further comprising: means for outputting the third A/V datain a first location as part of a videoconference.
 19. The system ofclaim 18 further comprising: means for outputting the first A/V data ina second location as part of the videoconference.
 20. The system ofclaim 16 further comprising: means for receiving fourth audio/video(A/V) data from the second network in a fourth format that specifies anetwork destination for the fourth A/V data; means for converting thefourth A/V data to fifth A/V data in a fifth format that does notspecify a network destination for the fifth A/V data; means forproviding the fifth A/V data over a second A/V connection; means forconverting the fifth A/V data from the second A/V connection to sixthA/V data in a sixth format that specifies a network destination for thesixth A/V data; and means for providing the sixth A/V data to thenetwork destination specified by the sixth A/V data over the firstnetwork.
 21. A method comprising: receiving first audio/video (A/V) datafrom a first network in a first format that specifies a networkdestination for the first A/V data; converting the first A/V data tosecond A/V data in a second format that does not specify a networkdestination for the second data; receiving the second A/V data over anA/V connection; converting the second A/V data to third A/V data in athird format that specifies a network destination for the third A/Vdata; and providing the third A/V data to the network destinationspecified by the third A/V data over a second network.
 22. The method ofclaim 21 wherein the first and the third formats each include anInternet Protocol (IP) format, and wherein the second format includes anaudio/video (A/V) format.
 23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:outputting the third A/V data in a first location as part of avideoconference.
 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:outputting the first A/V data in a second location as part of thevideoconference.
 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:receiving fourth audio/video (A/V) data from the second network in afourth format that specifies a network destination for the fourth A/Vdata; converting the fourth A/V data to fifth A/V data in a fifth formatthat does not specify a network destination for the fifth A/V data;providing the fifth A/V data over a second A/V connection; convertingthe fifth A/V data from the second A/V connection to sixth A/V data in asixth format that specifies a network destination for the sixth A/Vdata; and providing the sixth A/V data to the network destinationspecified by the sixth A/V data over the first network.